Replica Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar 26574: Short Answer
A replica AP Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 26574 copies the outside of a 41mm Royal Oak. The genuine reference 26574ST.OO.1220ST.01 runs on caliber 5134 and shows day, date, month, leap year, week of the year, moon phase, and a day/night ring. Most replicas match the case, bracelet, and dial layout. Most do not match the calendar math. A replica that shows all seven indications with correct leap-year tracking costs more than a replica that hides a 24-hour disc behind the moon phase.
Genuine 26574 Specs to Compare Against
- Case: 41mm wide, 9.5mm thick, steel, gold, titanium, or platinum
- Movement: caliber 5134, automatic, 38 jewels, 28,800 vph
- Power reserve: about 40 hours
- Dial: Grande Tapisserie grid, blue, black, white, or salmon
- Display: day, date, month, leap year, week of year, moon phase, day/night
- Water resistance: 20m
Measure the case first. A 41mm wide, 9.5mm thick watch sits flat on the wrist. Replicas add 1.5mm to 3mm. The added height comes from a movement module stacked under the base caliber. Thickness is the fastest check you can run with calipers.
Movement Tiers in the Replica Market
Tier 1: 9015 base with a calendar plate
This is the common build. A Miyota 9015 or a copy drives a plate on top. Day, date, and month wheels move. The moon phase is a 24-hour disc on most units. The leap year indicator sits on one position and does not advance. Week numbers do not track ISO weeks. Setting the watch forward past midnight can jam the date wheel. Price band: USD 400 to 700.
Tier 2: modified automatic with a working moon phase
These units add a 29.5-day moon phase and a leap-year wheel with four positions. Week-of-year still fails on most samples. Case thickness lands near 11.5mm. Movement finish is shallow. Price band: USD 900 to 2,000.
Tier 3: clone 5134 or a true perpetual calendar module
Samples exist. Supply is thin. Expect a wait and a price near USD 2,500 and up. Ask for a video that shows the leap-year hand moving from position 1 to 4 across 48 months of clicks.
Dial and Case Tells
- Date font: the genuine dial uses a thin, wide numeral. Replicas print thick numerals.
- Subdial spacing: the month and leap-year subdial at 12 sits close to the center on the genuine watch.
- Week hand: the center hand with the red tip points at a printed week number scale.
- Bracelet: links taper from 24mm at the lugs. Screws sit flush.
- Caseback: check rotor engraving depth and the font on the caseback ring.
Colorways and Reference Codes
Blue dial steel is the highest-demand version. Black dial and white dial steel versions sell in smaller numbers. Rose gold with a white or salmon dial carries a higher replica price because of the plating. Titanium and platinum replicas are rare and often use steel with a coating.
Pre-Purchase Checklist
- Ask for a video with a timer. Count the seconds the date takes to flip.
- Ask for a photo on a scale and a photo with calipers at the caseback.
- Ask which base movement sits in the case.
- Ask if the moon phase completes a 29.5-day cycle. If the seller cannot answer, assume a 24-hour disc.
- Ask about service. A stacked module needs a watchmaker who has parts.
- Confirm the return window in writing.
Setting Rules
Set the watch between 6:00 and 9:00 on the dial. Never set the calendar between 9:00 PM and 3:00 AM. The date wheel engages in that window. A jam there damages the plastic or brass teeth on the module. Wind the watch first, then set the day, then the date, then the month, then the leap year, then the time.
Water, Service, and Legal Notes
Replica 26574 cases rate at 3 ATM or less in practice. Gaskets are thin. Keep the watch away from pools and showers. Service intervals run 3 to 5 years. Parts come from the same factories that built the watch, so a broken module can end the watch's life. Counterfeit watch sales are illegal in the United States and the European Union. Customs seizures happen.